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Hi, sorry to get back to that pretty old topic.
I have a small red navigation screen on my e83, would like to update to the big colorful screen 16:9. I have the DVD installed in the trunk.
Which parts exactly do I need?

you will need the retrofit kit that contains
- 1 cable retrofit to install from the trunk to the dash board and fuse box
- 1 color screen
- 1 CID to replace the Business Radio/GPS in the dash board (optional - I personnaly use the Radio GPS business with the orange screen + color screen on board)

once you install all this,
you will need to update the firmware of the GPS /DVD player in the back of the car, to switch to professional GPS (with deported screen)
for this you will need a dongle + a software "Navcoder" or you can ask your dealer for updating your firmware, once all is installed.

Thank you for your prompt reply.
Can you please post a link to such retrofit cable so that I know what I should be searching for.
So, am I right that I can leave the small screen and then I only need the large screen + cable + firmware update?

This is a great retrofit instruction. I am sure it has helped many people. I have a different need. My car's display just broke the other day. I think the led starts to leak and I get this big circle on my screen. This should only get worse by day, so I am thinking to get it fixed.

Since I am fixing this, I want to add some features to the whole system. I am thinking to add
-HD radio
-Bluetooth phone
-iPod via Intravee II
-Reverse Camera (nice to have)
-Sirius radio (nice to have)

My car's stereo control unit has a 'phone' button on it, but it doesn't have the bluetooth option to setup. I also don't have HD radio on this, but sna77 has it after his retrofit. I think I am missing some hardware.

Anyone knows what I need to buy to get this project going?
-Central Information Display (CID)
-...

hard to reply from scratch, there are multiple possible options.
first, need to understand the archit. of the car to understand what you want to do:
for instance: reverse camera
or you go retrofit, or you add a specific devise between the GPS MK4 and the screen CID
if you go retrofit,
you will need a TV module (specific for your car, you need to find the serial number of the corresponding part on the site realOEM.com)
or eventually put a modern one, hybrid digital and analog.

for the ipod, same issue, multiple modules exists, that will show (or not) the title of the songs, and the playlists on the screen, (or not - depending on car version/year and price)
and so on ... so on....

I would advise for each feature to be installed, to check solution on google.
you may find comon parts, that should be your start point

RealOEM (as the name says) will point you to the original BMW part. they don't sell.
the site gives you the precise part you need, from the BMW catalogue, and they are not cheap!
but the site will give you the most important info - the corresponding serial number.
with this sezam, you shall go on eb... (eb... .de for german parts)
and look for the parts

Hi, sorry to get back to that pretty old topic.
I have a small red navigation screen on my e83, would like to update to the big colorful screen 16:9. I have the DVD installed in the trunk.
Which parts exactly do I need?

I know this is a very late reply, but maybe this info will help others as well...

I have done the exact upgrade mentioned above on my 2010 E83 (replace small red screen in radio with colour LCD display on dash) - thanks to sna77 for all the very useful info originally posted at the top of this thread.

In this case, since the nav DVD and wiring is already installed, it's only necessary to fit the additional wiring required for the LCD display (CID). It's not absolutely necessary to buy the complete nav wiring harness (loom), it's possible to just add the missing wires to the existing wiring - you'll need some thin screened cable for the video signals, and some multi-strand hook-up wire for power and other signals. However, I decided to buy the complete harness, just to make the job easier, and because all the required connectors are provided with the new harness. (I bought the wiring harness from an Ebay supplier in Europe).

I did not replace the old harness, I simply removed the additional wires that are required from the new harness, and added them to the existing wiring. It's possible to remove the individual wires from the connector in the new harness, and then insert them into the existing connector at the rear of the nav DVD. This means you don't have to install any wiring to the fuse box, or behind the instrument cluster, in this case they are already connected.

If anyone needs the exact details of which wires are required, I can post the info here.

I bought a second-hand CID, and replacement radio (from Ebay), which work just fine, and so much cheaper than new units, and of course you gain a CD/MP3 player as well.

Once the hardware was installed, all I had to do was code the navigation system so that it directs the video signals to the LCD display, using the excellent NavCoder software and an interface to the car's K-bus, which you can either buy or build one yourself using just a handful of simple components. Note that in order to recode the nav system, you'll also need to reload the nav computer's OS - which is not difficult.

In reference to this picture, do all X3's with navigation have access to this menu with the wheel sensors? I have an 05, wonder if this may help me trouble shoot if I have issues with my wheel sensors.

Thanks--but I can't take all the credit. My friend Andy is just about the best BMW tech I've ever met... I couldn't have done it without him.

Putting in DVD headrests for the kiddies soon... Actually not going to use the BMW ones.. BMW just OEMs them from Vizualogic, and they are constantly discontinuing parts etc. I ran into all sorts of issues grabbing replacement parts on my old e46... Figured I'd go straight to the horses mouth on the X3 install...

Hi. great job on making it all work out..i have a 2006 x3 with the whole navi setup like you have done here and i would like to have my ipod connected. can you tell me what i need to get? Help please. Thanks